Consider the symptoms of the country’s political esophagus cancer

Rep. Gerry Connolly from Virginia died this spring after a short battle with esophageal cancer. Connelly, 75, first revealed that he only cancer 6 months ago. Looks like he’s going well. However, Connolly made a plan to continue the work of her congress while undergoing chemotherapy and immunotherapy. And the symptoms of the esophagus that he mentioned – mild abdominal pain – it seems not a big problem.

That is why Connolly’s death came as a surprise. And somewhat scary to think that some abdominal pain can escape attention and be a sign of something deadly.

In this question and answer, gastrointestinal cancer expert Linda Martin, MD, explained this unknown cancer.

How common esophagus cancer?

Not too common. There are around 22,000 cases per year in the US, compared to lung cancer with 225,000 new cases per year and breast cancer with 317,000.

About one third of the patient is diagnosed in stage 4, when the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. Most are in stage 2 or 3 when they see any symptoms.

Rep. Connolly reports only experiencing one symptom before diagnosis – abdominal pain. What symptoms do you usually see with esophagus cancer?

The most common symptoms of esophagus cancer are:

• Difficulty swallowing
• Traffic jam

This usually starts with meat and bread. Far later in this disease, fluids may become difficult to swallow. Fast weight loss follows.

In many cases, esophagus cancer is related to GERD/Long -term heartburn.

Many symptoms of esophagus cancer can have a less serious cause. When should people worry?

Every time you have jammed food when swallowing, you should immediately tell your doctor. You may need upper endoscopy (the appearance of the esophagus with a light camera).

GERD with new difficulties swallowed will cause alarm and consideration for the upper endoscopy. You have to discuss GERD without difficulty swallowing with your doctor.

How do you treat esophagus cancer?

This is a difficult disease, for various reasons. Especially challenges by eating/swallowing. Treatment is somewhat complex and best done in centers with many experiences in this field.

Treatment can consist of chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery to eliminate the esophagus and reconstruct with the stomach pulled into the chest.

In further final stages of disease, surgery is not curative and therefore not done. We will treat with chemotherapy and sometimes radiation.